I like the idea of stacking the nutrient reservoir on top of the controller. Very space efficient assuming the lid is strong enough and it doesn't fall etc (which seems like it wont be a problem)
This can be done with the yellow top totes too, in case you need more capacity... No problem with holding the weight either, although a thin piece of wood will work for buckets. It'll also help to keep the molding nipple on the bottom of the buckets from weeping over time.
This is a great setup, yet there are very few people doing this type of Kratky with a Control bucket. Most are doing dutch buckets with recirculation... seems most people think Hydroponics means moving water, or they just like to see the water flowing, more than the plants growing..
I have a large sump in a circulating dwc pipe setup that feeds a chain of dwc non-circulating buckets keeping them auto topped up controlled by the same float valve bucket water level controller. things to think about. the bottom level buckets need to be level on the same horizontal plane. you can raise or lower the water off and individual bucket by digging down or adding something under it. the water level inside is the constant. this setup is prone to poor oxegyn level issues like rot. make sure the water level is lower so that there is an air chamber where the plant can grow air roots, such as in kratky method.
Thanks for your comments Mike. It is always great to hear from other gardeners. Since deep water culture is prone to low oxygen in hot outdoor temperatures, I use the kratky method. all of the oxygen and gas exchange happens in the moist root zone above the water, and the root tips never grow so deeply into the water that they are oxygen deprived.
Quick question: I'm not at all familiar with the practical aspects of operating hydroponics. As I understand it, the float is used to compensate for evaporation. Is there a danger of the solution in the smaller bucket becoming too concentrated with nutrients, as the water evaporates and is replaced by more nutrient water? After all, the water evaporates, leaving the nutrients behind. Or do the plants consume the nutrients quickly enough to prevent that from happening? Nice, simple, clean setup. Thanks for sharing.
The lids on the stacked reservoir and controller bucket help prevent evaporation, same with the lid on the grow bucket. Nutrients are half strength which helps keep nutrient concentration from getting too strong. The plant pulls an increasing more nutrients as it grows also. The system works together to make for very easy growing.
Like the idea!!! Is there also a option to connect more growing buckets, let say 5 are 6 of them? Are the buckets that you use large enough for growing tomato's?
I connect my buckets with tubing and rubber grommets. Easy to add buckets that way. For tomatoes, I use one or two 32 gallon trash cans as reservoirs. For a few years, this has worked great for cherry tomatoes. Heirloom beefsteak varieties do better with larger containers.
That's a very nice setup Matt, simple, inexpensive and effective. Thanks for sharing that.
Appreciate you watching and commenting Peter. This was the result of scaling down from several of my larger outdoor systems.
I like the idea of stacking the nutrient reservoir on top of the controller. Very space efficient assuming the lid is strong enough and it doesn't fall etc (which seems like it wont be a problem)
Thanks Jeb, I wonder if it would be a nice supply of nutrients for some of your office projects.
This can be done with the yellow top totes too, in case you need more capacity... No problem with holding the weight either, although a thin piece of wood will work for buckets. It'll also help to keep the molding nipple on the bottom of the buckets from weeping over time.
That's a great idea..! I might have to try that system out. Very well explained too. Thx
Thanks, glad it was useful. I like to automate systems as much as possible and keep it simple
This is a great setup, yet there are very few people doing this type of Kratky with a Control bucket. Most are doing dutch buckets with recirculation... seems most people think Hydroponics means moving water, or they just like to see the water flowing, more than the plants growing..
Well said. Circulating has advantages but at a cost of labor and electricity
This is genius. Thank you
Glad to help you out. Appreciate your reply.
I have a large sump in a circulating dwc pipe setup that feeds a chain of dwc non-circulating buckets keeping them auto topped up controlled by the same float valve bucket water level controller. things to think about. the bottom level buckets need to be level on the same horizontal plane. you can raise or lower the water off and individual bucket by digging down or adding something under it. the water level inside is the constant. this setup is prone to poor oxegyn level issues like rot. make sure the water level is lower so that there is an air chamber where the plant can grow air roots, such as in kratky method.
Thanks for your comments Mike. It is always great to hear from other gardeners. Since deep water culture is prone to low oxygen in hot outdoor temperatures, I use the kratky method. all of the oxygen and gas exchange happens in the moist root zone above the water, and the root tips never grow so deeply into the water that they are oxygen deprived.
I would have thought the root systems would mess with the float valve.
@@ianwilliams7740 Since the float valve bucket has nothing planted in it, the connected grow buckets don't interfere.
Quick question: I'm not at all familiar with the practical aspects of operating hydroponics. As I understand it, the float is used to compensate for evaporation. Is there a danger of the solution in the smaller bucket becoming too concentrated with nutrients, as the water evaporates and is replaced by more nutrient water? After all, the water evaporates, leaving the nutrients behind. Or do the plants consume the nutrients quickly enough to prevent that from happening?
Nice, simple, clean setup. Thanks for sharing.
The lids on the stacked reservoir and controller bucket help prevent evaporation, same with the lid on the grow bucket. Nutrients are half strength which helps keep nutrient concentration from getting too strong. The plant pulls an increasing more nutrients as it grows also. The system works together to make for very easy growing.
Like the idea!!! Is there also a option to connect more growing buckets, let say 5 are 6 of them? Are the buckets that you use large enough for growing tomato's?
I connect my buckets with tubing and rubber grommets. Easy to add buckets that way. For tomatoes, I use one or two 32 gallon trash cans as reservoirs. For a few years, this has worked great for cherry tomatoes. Heirloom beefsteak varieties do better with larger containers.